ESME News Archives - Enugu SME Centre

Representatives from the @Enugu SME Center (@enugusmeagency) and VFDbank ( @vbankng) paid a visit to the Osisatech Polytechnic on Thursday, 25th February 2021, where they spoke to the students at the Schools’ Auditorium about various opportunities being created for students in Enugu by the Enugu SME Center

These opportunities includes access to Student loans such as the ongoing ‘Enugu SME Studentpreneur Loans’, and various Human Capital Development Programs being organised by the Enugu SME Center .

For the first time in history, Students that own small businesses in every Higher institution within the state can now apply for business loans under the Studentpreneur Loans at smevfdbank.com (link in bio)

Importantly, we also appreciate the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Enugu Chapter, for their dogged participation in facilitating a hitch-free student relationship for this project.

If you are a student of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can get loans to run your business while in school, and how to participate in our Human Capital Development Programs.

Be available at Prof. Julius Onah Auditorium, Agbani
by 12pm, today (Thursday, 4th March 2021) as representatives from the Enugu SME Centre and VFDbank will be there to teach you how to apply for SME Studentpreneur Loans at smevfdbank.com.

If you know somebody that knows somebody in ESUT, please tag them??

The SME Studentpreneur Loans is brought to you by the Enugu State Government.

What is the Enugu Tech Skill Program About?
Enugu Tech® Program (www.enugutech.com) is a public-private partnership project developed and designed to train and provide a path to new jobs to about 50,000 young people in Enugu state. Successful beneficiaries will have the opportunity to learn either Product Design or Programming (UI/UX) with respect to your application and choice of program, the program will help you transition to new job roles and/or upscale in your already job role.
How is the Enugu Tech Skill Program Structured?
The training program under Enugu Tech are done virtually and remotely. The Product Design class is a one (1) month learning program. You would have the opportunity to learn on your own through the “dongle” (REQUIRES NO INTERNET) we would give you and also learn the online live classes that only run on weekends (Saturday and Sunday)
Kindly note that the Enugu SME Center would provide a location for the weekend virtual session with internet. These locations would be notified to participants that finalize the process. It would be based on the “address of the successful applicant” and not “LGA of origin”.
The Programming (Web and App Development) class runs for two (2) months. The classes are on weekends Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and you would be provided with a “dongle” (REQUIRES NO INTERNET) which helps you to access the contents and self- study. Though it is online classes, it is 100% instructor led and you get all class recordings for recaps
What level of complexity is the training? Is it for beginners
Both training program are modular programs that can take anyone from a novice capacity to a professional capacity. Remember the content WILL ALWAYS be with you for continuous learning
What if I live outside Enugu State
There is no problem, you can still participate in the Program
How much is the Enugu Tech Program
Each program is priced at N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira Only). This has been subsidized heavily by the Enugu SME Center from the original price of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only). Each selected applicant (1,500) under the Enugu Tech® Program was out 5,000 plus applicants. This selection enables you to access Human Capital Development Loan (HCDL) to access the training Program. The HCDL is an innovative ZERO INTEREST loan program that is intended SOLELY to provide training to Ndi-Enugu on technical and non-technical capacities.
For the Enugu Tech® Program is in partnership with private sector Edu-Tech leader called “Utiva” (www.utiva.io). Successful applicant can access HCDL Loan from The Enugu SME Agency, to be repaid after four (4) months (after the training)
What is the interest rate of this Loan for the Enugu Tech Skill Training Program?
The Loan for the Training Program is INTEREST FREE/ ZERO INTEREST

7. What are the requirements to access the Human Capital development Loan (HCDL) for Enugu Tech® Program
The successful applicants would be mandated to bring the following:
▪ Nationally Recognized Identification of the Applicant and Three(3) passport photograph
▪ Guarantor from the following areas:
○ Private Sector Individual- Businessman/Businesswoman, entrepreneur, private sector employee
○ Public Servant (Federal Government MDA, State Government from Executive Assistant-Honorable Commissioner)- retired within two (2) years also acceptable
○ Civil Servant from Level 6-Permanent Secretary- retired within two (2) years also acceptable.
▪ Requirements of the Guarantor:
○ Nationally Recognized Identification of the Applicant and two(2) passport photographs
○ Undated Cheque from CBN recognized Commercial Bank or Microfinance Bank- Kindly note that the Microfinance Bank’s cheque MUST be able
“go for clearing” and payable over the counter of other banks. Kindly note that NOT ALL microfinance bank’s cheque can clear over the counter. If you are going to use a Microfinance Bank kindly inquire if it can “go for clearing”
○ The guarantor would be expected to co-sign with the successful Enugu Tech Skill Applicant and is also expected to be physically sighted by the Agency to prevent any case of false claims, forgery of documentation and signature etc.
○ Guarantor can be from anywhere in Nigeria (within or outside Enugu) but
must make himself/herself available for sighting
○ Guarantee cheque cannot be a joint or corporate account

What if I cannot find a Guarantor, can I Guarantee myself?
YES, you can guarantee yourself and still access the Human Capital Development Loan. Just provide all the requirements of the “Guarantor” as detailed above in No.7 above.
If you are guaranteeing yourself, kindly bring a three (3) or six (6) months Bank Account Statement (either current or savings account)
What if I want to guarantee myself but I don’t have a cheque book
Just request for a cheque book from the Bank (current account holder). This takes seven (7) working days FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) UNDER THE ENUGU TECH® PROGRAM
If you are guaranteeing yourself, kindly bring a three (3) or six (6) months Bank Account Statement (either current or savings account)
What if I want to guarantee myself but only have a savings account
Request for a current account from your Bank. If the Bank request that you require an account reference, kindly come to the Enugu SME Center if you cannot find a referee.
If you are guaranteeing yourself, kindly bring a three (3) or six (6) months Bank Account Statement (either current or savings account)
What if I cannot get a guarantor, neither can I guarantee myself (because I don’t have a chequebook or it is “long” or “tedious” etc) but I can pay for the Enugu Tech® Program upfront?
Kindly notify us by sending an email to enugutech@utiva.io copying info@enugusme.ng with your “(Full Name)- Enugu Tech Applicant Paying Directly as the “Email Title”. The Bank Account details will be communicated to you. You can also come to the Enugu SME Center to retrieve the account details. Once paid, kindly scan the Payment Teller” to enugutech@utiva.io copying info@enugusme.ng with your “(Full Name)- Enugu Tech Applicant Paying Directly as the “Email Title”. You can also come to the Agency to bring a copy of the Payment Teller
Why do we need a cheque (guarantor or self-guarantee) as collateral to access the Human Capital Development Loan (HCDL)
These is the least invasive collateral instrument for a loan acceptable by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Why isn’t this a grant? Why isn’t this free?
Unfortunately, the Enugu SME Center is the developmental finance institution for Enugu State. It provides concessionary loans Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Enugu State amongst other primary function. Seeing as Human Capital is the most important sector, the Enugu SME Center has created a loan program tailored strictly for Human Capital Development. Remember loan can be intended for anything, just like how they are loans for only women or loans for agricultural sector etc.
The Agency has also ensured that these loans are ZERO INTEREST and has worked extensively with private sector to further subsidize the original training cost of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) to the current N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira )
Where can I find grants
Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Alleviation, Enugu State Scholarship Board etc
Would I be required to attend all training sessions?
Remember that as detailed in “No. 2”, is a combination of remote and virtual learning. You would be required to complete coursework. Failure to do so would lead to you “defaulting on the loan”. If you paid upfront, the funds shall not be refunded. You
need to take this seriously.

16. Can an individual who is currently employed also engage in the Training program?
YES. The Program is flexible enough for everyone

If I am still in school, and COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and school resumes.
What happens?
YES. The Program is flexible enough for everyone.
How will the job placement work?
We will onboard all the learners that successfully completed the learning program on the Utiva Job Bank. On that platform, you will get the opportunity to meet employers that are hiring for full time roles, part time, freelancers (gig economy) and also companies that are building products. The job platform will give success and determined applicants the opportunity to review employment opportunities and projects requirements and choose which works for you. The more projects you complete successfully, the more opportunities the technology platform routes to
you.
What if I decide to not continue the Enugu Tech Skill Program, what will happen?If you have successfully passed the rigorous selection phase and chosen for the first cohort and you drop out of the program, it would have been determined you have DEFAULTED on the Enugu Tech Skill Training and the default terms would kick in as detailed in the Offer Letter, which would include calling on the collateral (the cheque of the guarantor/or applicant). If you paid for the Enugu Tech Skill Program upfront, it shall not be refunded.
Do I need a laptop for this program?
Yes! You do need a laptop to participate in the program as discussed in during the orientation session
Once we have met all the requirements, where and when should we come to complete our documentation, with our guarantor?
Successful applicants will be onboarding into Whatsapp Platforms from Thursday 27th August 2020- Monday 7th September 2020. This is to carry everyone along on the
program dynamics amongst other things regarding orientation.

Documentation signing will commence from Monday 7th September 2020- Monday, 21st September 2020